@ewdocparris
The promotions came so quickly. One straight to the next, the rubber stamp clack-clacking like a domino fall.

I heard the whispers, of course. How I didn’t earn it, my face did. A name like mine on the rolls? Bait for my father, his old war heroics still scalding the rich and bloodless.

I didn’t care. My name was on the captain’s log. Fastest in guild history.

The hatch was halfway open when I knew - they were right, it had been a trick.
But I was the mark.